TRENTON, NJ-Gov. Chris Christie's office announced Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $10 million for post-Sandy cleanup projects in Belmar and Marlboro and to cover costs for the state's emergency office work in the storm's aftermath.
All of the shore towns hit by the superstorm are now working feverishly to get their boardwalks and beach areas up and running by the start of the season on Memorial Day. The FEMA funds will be used to help pay for the work that had to be done immediately after the Oct. 29 hurricane smashed and flooded buildings and strewed debris.
The town of Marlboro will be reimbursed with $1.6 million in FEMA funds for costs incurred accomplishing debris removal and opening roads for emergency vehicles.
In Belmar, where $5.4 million was spent on emergency work, the state will funnel $4 million in FEMA funds to reimburse the borough for costs.
FEMA funds will also cover the $3.5 million cost of personnel and equipment used by the state Office of Emergency Management during cleanup.
The FEMA funds are channeled through the state-administered Public Assistance Program, a cost-share plan that reimburses local and county governments and nonprofit organizations eligible to perform disaster work.
"Removal of debris from our communities is one of the ways our residents psychologically recover and return to a sense of normalcy in their everyday lives after the storm," said the governor in a statement.
"Getting this work done and securing reimbursement for our local governments continues to demonstrate steady progress for our residents as we continue the work of rebuilding our state," said Christie.
Monmouth County officials and mayors have said that they are worried that economic devastation of the area will continue at length if the beach areas aren't back in order by summer.
Belmar Mayor Matthew Doherty has pledged to have the borough's 1.3-mile boardwalk up and running by Memorial Day. Other towns' officials say they are hopeful, but not certain it can be done in their communities.
In Ocean Grove, where the boardwalk is owned by a private religious organization, FEMA funds can not be used for repairs - and it is unclear how repairs will proceed.
The first phase of the $6-million reconstruction of Seaside Heights' boardwalk, is set to begin this month.
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